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The HoneyComb Engine
By Corvus | July 7, 2009
All other Zakelro projects have been moved to the back burner. The HoneyComb Engine rev03 RPG system, the result of nearly 20 years of exploring participatory storytelling systems, has been testing extremely well and we’re fervently committed to sharing it with the world at large.
I’m hard at it, shackled to my keyboard, banging out a rough draft of the manual. Not one, but TWO editors eagerly snatch the digital pages from my feverish grasp and pour their red pixels into the mix.
We’re having weekly meetings to discuss publishing avenues, prototyping the Life Wheels, and exploring manufacturing options so that we can deliver quality, sustainable, fair trade, merchandise.
I’m working on a site to support the free online distribution of the system, act as a storefront for people who wish to purchase the book in hardcover, paperback, or PDF format, and eventually play host to the digital conversion of the HoneyComb Engine.
I’ve got a follow-up book planned that will share specific tools and tips for building non-linear plots and provide skill training exercises for sharing the story creation process. It’s quite likely that I will be publish world-books at some point–sharing the world I’ve built that supports multiple play styles, limitless genres, and a participatory storytelling approach.
The Renown game will be revamped to use assets compatible with the Rev03 LifeWheel and together the games will provide a design tool for creating your own games or randomly generating your own plots and story experiences for Rev03.
I don’t expect to become an enormous publishing empire–just a very tiny one. But it is clear to everyone involved–my wife, my testers, myself–that this is it. This is the culmination of my theory and the platform that will support its future growth and development. There’s a near-palpable buzz around the Zakelro Manse these days and it’s exciting.
Over the next month, I’m running public tests of The HoneyComb Engine Rev03 ruleset at a wonderful local gaming shop, Guardian Games. The sessions, if you’re local and interested in checking it out, are:
- Thursday the 9th of July from 6-8p
- Saturday the 18th of July from 6-8p and 8-10p
- Thursday the 23th of July from 6-8p
- Saturday the 1st of August from 6-8p and 8-10p
Each session will support 3-4 players and cover the basics of the system while providing a very simple plot to unravel. I will also be creating a unique storyworld based upon independent player input for each session, just to keep things interesting.
The first BIG unveiling of the system will be at PAX this year. As I said yesterday I’ll be moderating a panel on Sunday, but the rest of the weekend I hope to run numerous public play sessions. If you’re going to be at PAX and want to give it a shot, let me know. If you’re local but won’t be at PAX, I’ll have a hotel room right next to the convention center and will happily set up private showings as well.
And then,
On September 9, 2009,
the HoneyComb Engine website will go live. The system rules and high-quality printable PDFs of the assets needed to run the game will be available, for free, to the public. Shortly thereafter the HoneyComb Engine system manual will be made available for purchase in both PDF and physical book formats. At some point within the following year, Life Wheels will be made available for purchase as well.
This is it–”money where my mouth is” time. I’m excited and can’t wait to see where this is going to lead us over the coming year!
Tagged:Honeycomb Engine, pax, Renown, rev03. | 12 Comments »
July 7th, 2009 at 6:43 am
Very exciting. Can’t wait to see it all.
July 7th, 2009 at 7:03 am
I will be honored to share my birthday with the HoneyComb Engine. I just wish I could get my hands on it before then!
July 7th, 2009 at 7:06 am
Launching the same day as The Beatles Rock Band?
Congratulations! This is very exciting.
July 7th, 2009 at 10:18 am
Congrats on what sounds like a very personally fulfilling project. Can’t wait to see it!
July 7th, 2009 at 10:34 am
Corvus, this sounds exciting and monumental. I hope your efforts bear fruit to reflect how much has gone into this process!
July 7th, 2009 at 11:51 am
Congratulations, I’m very excited for you!
July 7th, 2009 at 2:10 pm
Hell yeah! *pumps fist into the air*
July 7th, 2009 at 2:50 pm
OoooOOoooOOoo! Fun stuff. I’ll be waiting to click that day.
July 7th, 2009 at 4:48 pm
I’ll be looking forward to actually playing this at PAX when the time comes.
September 23rd, 2009 at 3:03 am
This is the first I’ve heard of the HoneyComb Engine and it sounds intriguing.
Since September 9th has come and gone, when can we expect the launch?
September 23rd, 2009 at 5:24 am
@zipdrive Yep, I ran into some issues (mostly unrelated to the manual itself) and the launch is slightly delayed. But we’re still on track for September!
September 23rd, 2009 at 11:26 pm
Corvus, I’m producing a gaming podcast and I’d appreciate it if you’d contact me when the game is launched.